Magic Sphere

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a device for outputting an acoustic and/or optical effect (a decision sequence) comprising a basic body comprising a basic element with a cover which can be attached in a form- and/or force-closed manner, at least one optical and/or at least one acoustic stimulating element, a power supply, a circuitry comprising a microprocessor, a random generator and a storage medium, and at least one switch, wherein a decision sequence can be activated by the at least one switch, wherein the decision sequence being selectable by random generator from a plurality of decision sequences provided and with said sequence being outputtable by the stimulus elements in the form of an optical and/or acoustic stimulus (decision sequence). In this way a “magic sphere” is provided that may help the user to take decisions.

The invention relates to a device that enables the randomly controlled output of sound and/or light effects.

Even if many people try to make imminent decisions objectively, there are situations in which one prefers to flip a coin or even take the proverbial look into a magic sphere, a fortune-teller's ball, in order to receive assistance in making a decision. However, most known decision aids do not do justice to the superstition that is certainly involved and underlies such a search for help. The reason for this is the usually clearly perceptible technicality of such devices, which leads the user away from the assumption of receiving a quasi supernatural decision-making aid.

It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a device that offers a decision-making aid by outputting a result in a manner similar to what a magic sphere would produce, for example in the form of a certain sound and/or light effect.

This objective is achieved by an invention comprising the characteristics described in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments in each case are the subject of the dependent claims. It is to be noted that any features and characteristics individually included in the claims may also be combined with each other in an optional and technologically sensible manner so that they reveal further implementations or methods of the invention.

The idea on which the invention is based relates to the concept that a magic sphere offers a decision aid through the output of a certain light or sound effect or a combination of these. In this context, the user should be able to trigger the output, including, for example, a preceding suspense-increasing sequence, without having to touch the sphere directly. This should allow the user to circle around a magic sphere with his hands and in this manner foster the illusion that real magic is involved. The sphere then outputs a predetermined decision aid, for example a certain time after the triggering or after completion of the circling hand movements.

The decision aid may produce a light and/or a sound effect, with sound effect being understood to mean a speech output as well as noises, melodies, individual tones etc. as well as combinations thereof. A light effect is to be understood as the output of any light stimulus of various colors, sequences, intensities, etc. as well as combinations thereof. Accordingly, a decision aid comprises the entirety of the light and/or sound effects intended for it in each individual case.

The relevant decision may be a simple yes-no decision, but it is also conceivable that a decision can be made as a selection between further possibilities. Depending on the number of different decision options, a corresponding number of different decision-making aids are provided.

The decision aids—in the event a simple yes-no decision is involved—are varied and include, for example, light on for “yes” and light off for “no”, one flash for “yes” and two flashes for “no”, green for “yes” and red for “no”, speech output “yes” for “yes” and speech output “no” for “no”, etc. A plurality of combinations is possible, there are no limits to creativity. A respective and desired output is selected by those skilled in the art.

In case further decision aids are envisaged, for example to be able to realize a decision to be made between three or more options, the decision aids can be enhanced/augmented accordingly by further blinking/flashing effects, speech or sound effects, noises or also color signals, just to name a few possibilities. A respective and desired output is selected by those skilled in the art.

A device proposed by the invention preferably comprises a basic element and a cover that can be connected to the basic element in a form-closed and/or force-closed manner.

The basic element is preferably designed in the form of a plate and is intended to serve both as a base and a footing support for the cover.

Preferably, the cover is of spherical shape and can be attached via its underside to the basic element in a force- and/or form-closed manner to give the viewer the impression of perceiving a magic crystal sphere arranged on a base.

The electrical and electronic components and systems required for the operation of the device according to the invention are preferably arranged on and connectable to the basic element and are shielded and thus concealed from an observer's view by the cover.

The electrical and electronic components and systems of an inventive device comprise at least one optical and/or at least one acoustic stimulus element, a power supply, a circuit comprising a microprocessor, a random generator and a storage medium, as well as at least one switch.

Preferably, the optical stimulus element comprises at least one LED. The number and also the color reproduction of the LEDs are selected by those skilled in the art in line with the special requirements to be met, for example according to the number of decision aids to be implemented. Appropriate files containing certain light effects can be deposited on the storage medium.

The acoustic stimulus element comprises a loudspeaker through which the acoustic signals can be output. Appropriate files containing sound effects can be deposited on the storage medium.

The electronic circuitry also includes a microprocessor as well as a random generator. A random generator in this context shall be understood as any hardware-based algorithm that leads to a certain output. In this respect, a random generator within the meaning of the invention is also such an algorithm whose results in total do not correspond to an ideal distribution. The microprocessor controls the necessary electrical and electronic processes.

The at least one switch is intended to activate a decision sequence. A decision sequence within the meaning of the invention comprises the random selection of an intended decision aid and the reproduction of the selected decision aid in the form of a sound and/or light effect. In addition, introductory sound and/or light effects—for example to increase the excitement—may be employed to precede the selected decision aid within the framework of the decision sequence. Any kind of combination is conceivable here. In particular, it is conceivable that the introductory/initial effects are always the same and that only the decision aid can be selected at random, but alternative embodiments are conceivable as well wherein both the introductory effects and the decision aid can be selected at random within the framework of the decision sequence.

In principle, the at least one switch that is provided can be any type of switch. However, preferred are proximity switches or proximity sensors, which enable the decision sequence to be activated without having to touch the device. Capacitive proximity switches are particularly suitable for this purpose; however, the invention shall not be limited to such switches. It is also conceivable that a light-sensitive switch could be the preferred choice, for example.

The control of the decision sequence is conceivable in various ways. For example, with respect to the decision sequence a predetermined length may be arranged for, which is only started by activation, but then runs automatically for a defined time span. However, it is also conceivable that the decision sequence is activated and then remains in effect as long as the corresponding switch is held in activated mode. This allows the user to determine the length of the decision sequence themselves, for example to adapt it to the respective situation and the required state of suspense. In the event a capacitive proximity switch is provided, this means, for example, that the user can let their hands orbit around the magic sphere as long as they wish and the output of the decision aid follows only after the movement has been terminated. This may also additionally intensify the realistic effect exerted on the viewers.

To make sure the sensitivity of such a capacitive proximity switch is sufficient, it makes sense to arrange for the at least one conductive element to extend from the switch to the inside of the cover or to the top of the cover or through the cover to the surface of the cover. In the event the conductive element extends onto the surface, it can also serve as embellishment of the surface, which can help to conceal the technical details involved. The conductive element can total or in partial be a conductive ink, conductive paint or conductive paste. This can be applied to the internal and/or external surface of the cover.

Moreover, embodiments are conceivable the conductive elements of which are integrated into the cover. Which type of embodiment is chosen by those skilled in the art depends not least on the desired design of the sphere and the will or need to hide these conductive elements.

Another switch can be provided in the form of a typical on/off switch to disconnect the power supply from the loads, for example.

A further embodiment of the invention may provide, for example, that the number of possible decisions and thus the possible decision aids and/or decision sequences can be controlled via a preceding selection process, for example by the use of a selector switch. Such a switch can be designed as a slide switch that enables predefined numbers to be selected. The selection of the number “2” enables a choice to be made between two possibilities, the selection of the number “3” a choice to be made between three possibilities, etc.

For the selection, an up/down switch is also conceivable, for example, whereby the selected number is confirmed or acknowledged, for instance, via a sound or light effect or also via a separate display, which is preferably provided on the underside of the basic element. In such an embodiment, the device could also be used for decisions that offer more than two options.

The device proposed by the invention provides in a surprisingly simple way a decision-making aid that is easy to use and can also be used in a playful manner.

The invention as well as the technical environment are described hereunder in sufficient detail on the basis of the figures. It is to be noted that the figures show an especially preferred embodiment variant of the invention. However, the invention shall not be deemed as being limited to the embodiment variant shown. To the extent it is technically expedient, the invention comprises, in particular, any optional combinations of the technical features that are stated in the claims or in the description as being relevant to the invention.

Elucidation of the invention is provided by the following figures where

FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of the magic sphere with basic element and cover;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the magic sphere seen at an oblique angle from below with basic element and cover, and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the basic element of the magic sphere seen at an oblique angle from above.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the device 1 proposed by the invention with basic element 2 and the spherical cover 3. For the cover 3 a material is preferably selected that at least does not completely shield the underlying light effects from the observer. The underside of basic element 2 must be designed in such a way that it provides adequate stability for device 1.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device 1 seen at an oblique angle from below comprising basic element 2 and cover 3. Preferably, the underside of the basic element 2 includes openings 4 for the speaker, access to the power supply 5, for example a flap giving access to the battery compartment below, and an optional on/off switch 6. In a further embodiment of the invention, a selection switch for determining the number of decision options and, if thought expedient, a display for indicating the selected decision options are also preferably provided on the underside of the basic element 2 (neither of which is shown in FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basic element 2 seen at an oblique angle from above showing a conductive element 7. The conductive element 7 is connected to the capacitive proximity switch (not shown here) and in this embodiment extends up to the inner side of the cover (3, not shown here).

List of Reference Numerals

-   1 Device -   2 Basic element -   3 Cover -   4 Openings for the loudspeaker -   5 Access to the battery compartment -   6 On/off switch -   7 Conductive element 

1. A device for outputting at least one of an acoustic effect and an optical effect, said device comprising: a basic body further comprising a basic element with a cover which can be attached in at least one of a form-closed and a force-closed manner, at least one of an optical acoustic stimulating element and an acoustic stimulating element, a power supply, a circuitry further comprising a microprocessor, a random generator and a storage medium, and at least one switch, wherein a decision sequence is activated by the at least one switch, the decision sequence being selectable by said random generator from a plurality of provided decision sequences, with said decision sequence being outputtable by a plurality of stimulus elements further comprising at least one of an optical stimulus and an acoustic stimulus.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switch is a proximity switch.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switch is a capacitive proximity switch further comprising at least one conductive element.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one conductive element of the capacitive proximity switch extends up to at least one of and inside of the cover, onto a top of the cover, and integrated into the cover.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the number of possible decision sequences is adjustable, wherein said number adjustment is set by a further switch.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is spherical in shape.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a further switch is provided as an on-off switch.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic stimulus elements are loudspeakers.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical stimulus elements are LEDs.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical and acoustic effects are stored on the storage medium. 